Taylorian

54

HOCKEY

1st XI

testament to the strength and commitment of the year group. As Roman philosopher Lucius Seneca put it, “a gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials”. The team certainly faced many trials over the last twelve months, but we dealt with them as a collective, and are no doubt a better group of hockey players and young men as a result. Tom Ford (U6th, 1st XI Captain) Squad: K. Wagjiani, A. Mistry, D. Reddy, E. Arslan, N. Williams, R. Mangat, D. Mehta, J. Beeby, H. Williamson, R. Waddington, K. Shah, F. Ahmed, T. Ford (Capt.), N. Patel, T. K. Patel, T. Whittaker, A. Sawant, G. Kyriakou, J. Groves, K. Dixit, A. Leitch.

success against Bedford – a testament to the team’s growth and resilience. As the season drew to a close we faced Tier 1 side Norwich in a riveting encounter, falling just short in a narrow defeat. Throughout the season, the team’s offensive struggles were evident, yet the unwavering defensive prowess of Dylan Mehta, named Player of the Year, helped in numerous tight encounters. This season also marked the farewell of key contributors to the 1st XI over the past three years, including striker Alex Leitch, midfielders Faaris Ahmed and Tom Ford, defenders Dilan Reddy and Rohan Mangat, and goalkeepers Kyle Wagjiani and Akshay Mistry. To represent the school at first team level for one year is an impressive feat, but to become three-season stalwarts is a

P: 18 / W: 7 / D: 2 / L: 9 / F-A: 50-48 / GD: 2 Buoyed by our summer and indoor successes, the 1st XI entered the season brimming with confidence. We began with a high-quality goalless draw against RGS Guildford, followed by a thrilling triumph over Felsted in the first round of the Independent Schools Cup. However, the start to our season was not without its challenges. Consecutive defeats against Reed’s, a powerhouse in schoolboy hockey, and an unfortunate loss to Dr Challoner’s in the Tier 2 Cup tested the team’s resolve. However, we (10-0), and a 5-0 win against Forest School on the Olympic Astro at Lee Valley. The intense fixture calendar for the first half of term culminated in a showdown against Felsted in the Independent Schools Plate, where our opponents, driven by a desire to avenge our early-season victory, ran out convincing winners, epitomizing the season’s theme of extremes. The second half of the season mirrored the first; impressive triumphs were juxtaposed with disappointing defeats. After disappointing performances against Eton and Magdalen College, the team recovered to secure memorable wins, including a 3-1 victory away at Hurstpierpoint and a commanding 8-1 were determined to bounce back. Indeed, the team showed great resolve to produce several outstanding performances, securing notable victories over St Albans (2-1), Lingfield College